Declines in glacier area and volume are widespread. These changes will have important hydrologic consequences since glaciers store tremendous amounts of fresh water and buffer seasonally low flows in many densely populated regions. In this thesis I focus on a region that is hydrologically vulnerable to glacier change, namely the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. I present three manuscripts that focus on measuring glacier area change, modeling the effect of this area change on the hydrology of one watershed, and isotopic sampling to elucidate hydrologic processes in this watershed and the entire Cordillera Blanca. In the first manuscript, I describe a methodology for mapping glaciers using satellite imagery. Satellite data, in conjunction with automated glacier mapping methods, are being used more frequently to map changes in glacier size. In contrast to the majority of studies using automated methods, I correct satellite images for atmospheric effects. Mapping glaciers with atmospherically-corrected satellite images resulted in an approximately 5% increase in glacier area, relative to glaciers mapped with non-atmospherically-corrected images. I also applied a consistent threshold that was validated using high-resolution satellite imagery. This helps to reduce error associated with change analysis. For the entire Cordillera Blanca, I calculated a 25% decrease in glacier area from 1987 to 2010. The rate of glacier area loss has increased significantly based on the most recent estimates. In the second manuscript, I use a physically-based, hydrologic model, the Distributed Hydrology Soil Vegetation Model (DHSVM) with a newly-coupled dynamic glacier model to simulate stream discharge and glacier change in the Llanganuco watershed of the Cordillera Blanca. I also examined statistical trends associated with historical records of temperature, precipitation, and discharge. I observed significant positive trends in annual temperature, but no trends in precipitation or discharge despite a 25% reduction in glacier area in this watershed over the same time. The model setup process and the results of sensitivity analyses are described. Of the input parameters I examined, I found that the model was particularly sensitive to changes in albedo and precipitation. Based on established efficiency criteria, the newly-coupled model did a decent job of simulating historical stream discharge and glacier area during 10 year calibration and validation periods. However, due to the lack of additional validation data and an inability to quantify uncertainty associated with model output, the model is not yet ready to be used for predicting future discharge based on different climate projections. In the third manuscript I describe the knowledge gained about hydrologic processes from isotopic sampling in the Llanganuco watershed, as well as other watersheds of the Cordillera Blanca. Thirty water samples from Llanganuco were collected in July 2011 and measured for stable isotopes of water, δ¹⁸O and δ²H. I first calculated the isotopic lapse rate, or the relationship between isotopic values and elevation. Lapse rates from this watershed are slightly more positive than global averages. This observation is best explained by the influence of glaciers. I also calculated the strength of the relationship between isotopic values and percent glacier cover. For Llanganuco, glacier cover is a better predictor of isotopic value than elevation. Based on examination of the same relationships at larger scales in the Cordillera Blanca, this relationship appears to be persistent at a regional scale. Finally, I used a simple two-component mixing model to estimate the relative contributions of glacier meltwater and groundwater in the Llanganuco watershed. Glacier meltwater made up approximately three-fourths of surface water that exited the watershed during this two week period in July, 2011. The importance of glacier meltwater is clearly demonstrated using stable isotopes, but further, more detailed monthly sampling is necessary to accurately determine annual and dry season streamflow contributions from glacier meltwater and groundwater. / Graduation date: 2013

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire ont pour but de mieux définir et quantifier lesprocessus d’érosion actuels en domaine glaciaire et proglaciaire. Le Glacier des Bossons,situé dans le massif du Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie, France), est un bon exemple de systèmenaturel non anthropisé permettant d’étudier cette thématique. Il repose sur deux lithologiesprincipales (le granite du Mont-Blanc et le socle métamorphique) et cette singularitépermettra de déterminer l’origine des sédiments glaciaires. Afin de comprendre lesmécanismes d’érosion mécanique et de transport particulaires en domaine glaciaire, lessédiments ont été prélevés à la surface du glacier, sous le glacier et dans les torrents sousglaciaires.L’étude des distributions granulométriques et des provenances des sédiments a étéeffectuée par une analyse lithologique à macro-échelle (à l’oeil nu) et géochimique à microéchelle(datation U-Pb sur zircons). Elles ont permis de préciser les caractéristiques del’érosion et du transport glaciaire. (1) la charge supra-glaciaire issue de l’érosion des versantsrocheux est essentiellement composée de sédiments grossiers et ne se mélange pas ou peu à lacharge sous-glaciaire, excepté au niveau de la langue terminale ; (2) les vitesses d’érosionsous-glaciaire ne sont pas homogènes, l’érosion sous la glace tempérée (0,4-0,8mm.an-1) estau moins seize fois supérieure à celle sous la glace froide (0,025-0,05mm.an-1) ; (3) lessédiments sous-glaciaires contiennent une fraction silteuse et sableuse résultant des processusd’abrasion et de crushing qui est évacuée par les torrents sous-glaciaires. L’acquisition hauterésolutiontemporelle de données hydro-sédimentaires durant la saison de fonte entre le 5 Maiet le 17 Septembre 2010 a permis de définir le comportement saisonnier des fluxhydrologiques et sédimentaires. La majeure partie des flux détritiques est concentrée sur lasaison de fonte, et une quantification de la quantité de sédiments exportés par le torrent desBossons complétée par une mesure régulière de l’évolution de la topographie du systèmefluvio-glaciaire permet d’effectuer un bilan global de l’érosion des domaines glaciaires etproglaciaires. Au cours de l’année 2010, près de 3000 tonnes de sédiments ont été érodés dont430 tonnes se sont déposeés sur le plan des eaux. Grâce à une analyse de l’évolution desconcentrations de matières en suspension en entrée et en sortie de la plaine alluviale fluvioglaciairedu torrent des Bossons, les composantes glaciaires et non-glaciaires de l’érosion ontpu être découplées. L’érosion des moraines dénudées encadrant le plan des eaux au cours desévénements orageux est responsable au minimum de 59% du flux de sédiments transporté parle torrent des Bossons, l’érosion glaciaire (41% du flux) est donc relativement moins efficace.L’évolution à long terme des systèmes glaciaires en période de réchauffement climatiquemontrerait donc une érosion soutenue des environnements proglaciaires (versants et moraines)récemment libéré des glaces et de ce fait une intensification des flux détritiques. Le glacierdes Bossons protège le sommet du Mont-Blanc, l’érosion différentielle entre les zones sous laglace et non-glaciaires pourrait mener à un accroissement de la différence d’altitude entre lesvallées et les sommets. / The study presented in this PhD memory aim at better define and quantify the present timeerosion processes in glacial and proglacial domain. The Glacier des Bossons, situated in theMont-Blanc massif (Haute-Savoie, France), is a good example of a natural and nonanthropizedsystem which allows us to study this topic. This glacier lies on two mainlithologies (the Mont-Blanc granite and the metamorphic bedrock) and this peculiarity is usedto determine the origin of the glacial sediments. The sediments were sampled at the glaciersurface and at the glacier sole and also in the subglacial streams in order to understand themechanisms of mechanical erosion and particle transportation in glacial domain. The study ofthe granulometric distribution and the origin of the sediments were performed by a lithologicanalysis at macro-scale (naked-eye) and a geochemical analysis at micro-scale (U-Pb datingof zircons). These analyses allowed specifying the characteristics of glacial erosion andtransport. (1) the supraglacial sediments derived from the erosion of the rocky valley sides aremainly coarse and the glacial transport does not mix these clasts with those derived from thesub-glacial erosion, except in the lower tongue; (2) the sub-glacial erosion rates areinhomogeneous, erosion under the temperate glacier (0,4-0,8mm.an-1) is at least sixteen timesmore efficient than the erosion under the cold glacier (0,025-0,05mm.an-1); (3) the sub-glacialsediments contain a silty and sandy fraction, resulting from processes of abrasion andcrushing, which is evacuated by sub-glacial streams. The high-resolution temporal acquisitionof hydro-sedimentary data during the 2010 melt season, between the May 5th and theSeptember 17th, allowed defining the seasonal behavior of the hydrologic and sedimentaryfluxes. The sediment exportation occurs mainly during the melt season therefore, quantify thesediment fluxes in the Bossons stream and measure regularly the topographic evolution of thefluvio-glacial system allows to perform a sedimentary balance of the erosion of glacial andnon-glacial domains. During the year 2010, about 3000 tons of sediments were eroded with430 tons settled on the fluvio-glacial system. By analyzing the evolution of suspendedparticulate matter concentrations in the Bossons stream upstream and downstream the fluvioglacialsystem, the part of glacial erosion and non-glacial denudation in the sedimentarybalance could be proportioned. The erosion during the stormy events of the uncoveredmoraines, confining the fluvio-glacial system of the Bossons stream, furnishes at least 59% ofthe sediments exported by the Bossons stream and glacial erosion (41 % of the flux) istherefore less efficient comparatively. The long-term evolution of the glacial systems inperiod of global warming would show a sustained erosion of proglacial environments(mountain sides and moraines) recently exposed and therefore an increasing of the detritalfluxes. The Glacier des Bossons protects the summit of the Mont-Blanc, the differentialerosion between zones under the ice and non-glacial could lead to an increase of thedifference of altitude between valleys and summits.

Les glaciers des Alpes françaises subissent un recul généralisé depuis la fin du Petit Âge Glaciaire (PAG). Dans le contexte actuel d'élévation de la température et du fait des nombreux enjeux auxquels ils sont associés, l'amélioration de leur suivi apparaît indispensable. Avant ce travail, il n'existait pas d'étude exhaustive récente concernant l'ensemble des glaciers des Alpes françaises, les travaux de Mougin et de Vivian datant respectivement du milieu des années 1920 et 1970. L'objectif de ce travail est de dresser un inventaire diachronique des glaciers des Alpes françaises et de leurs marges proglaciaires. Les données de cet inventaire servent ensuite de base à l'étude des modalités du retrait glaciaire depuis la fin du PAG et à l'établissement de méthodes pour détecter les secteurs susceptibles d'être affectés par des instabilités. L'inventaire diachronique des glaciers des Alpes françaises est réalisé à 3 dates : (i) 2006-2009 à partir des orthophotographies récentes de l'IGN, (ii) 1967-1971 à partir des premières éditions des cartes topographiques 1 :25 000 de l'IGN, et (iii) la fin du PAG (pour les massifs du Mont Blanc, de la Vanoise et des Ecrins), en croisant documents anciens et données géomorphologiques acquises sur le terrain et par photo-interprétation. Les données sont organisées dans un Système d'Information Géographique (SIG) qui permet d'associer cartographie et base de données. La superficie des glaciers était de 275 km² en 2006-2009, 369 km² en 1967-1971 et 544 km² à la fin du PAG pour les massifs du Mont Blanc, de la Vanoise et des Ecrins. A l'échelle régionale, les glaciers ont perdu 25 % de leur superficie depuis la fin des années 1960 et 50 % de leur superficie depuis la fin du PAG. La rétraction des glaciers est environ 2,5 fois plus rapide entre 1967-1971 et 2006-2009 qu'entre la fin du PAG et 1967-1971. A l'échelle individuelle, les glaciers ont perdu en moyenne 52 % de leur superficie entre 1967-1971 et 2006-2009, et 115 ont même disparu. A l'échelle régionale comme individuelle, le retrait glaciaire présente des tendances différentes selon les massifs, la taille des glaciers et leur exposition Des méthodes simples, basées sur les données des inventaires des glaciers et des marges proglaciaires sont établies afin d'identifier les lacs potentiellement instables, les secteurs englacés favorables à la formation de futurs lacs, au déclenchement d'avalanches de séracs ou susceptibles d'être déstabilisés en masse, et les marges proglaciaires favorables à l'occurrence de glissements ou de laves de débris.

O efeito de alterações climáticas sobre os micro-organismos ainda é incerto, pois pouco se conhece sobre as espécies que habitam regiões extremas como o gelo, solo antártico, e o solo permanentemente congelado (permafrost). O permafrost tem como característica a preservação de material biológico por milhões de anos, servindo como fonte para estudos de evolução e biogeografia de micro-organismos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a diversidade microbiana em amostras de gelo, solo exposto por recuo de geleira e permafrost polares, e a diversidade funcional do gene alcano monoxigenase (alk). Métodos independentes de cultivo baseados no gene 16S rRNA foram utilizados, como DGGE, clonagem e pirossequenciamento. As geleiras da Ilha Rei George (Península Antártica) e do Pólo Sul Geográfico possuem cerca de 3.104 cél./mL e são compostas por micro-organismos diferentes, com predominância dos Filos Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes e Cyanobacteria, muitos dos quais já descritos em outros ambientes criogênicos. O solo em frente à geleira Baranowski apresenta uma estrutura de comunidade diferente do gelo. O solo exposto por recuo de geleira apresenta uma sucessão ecológica, com predominância de heterotróficas durante todo o processo. Fixadores de nitrogênio no solo foram compostos por cianobactérias no início, e por Rhodopseudomonas e Rhodobacter no final da sucessão. Estes resultados foram melhor observados com o pirossequenciamento. As mudanças observadas podem estar relacionadas ao aumento de K, Mg+, NH4+, NO3- e/ou CO2 detectados após 15-20 anos de exposição do solo. A comunidade de permafrosts varia com o local e a idade de congelamento (de 5.000 a 8 milhões de anos). O gene alkM foi detectado em permafrosts do Ártico com 3 milhões de anos, e o gene alkB em amostras do Ártico com 15.000 e 120.000 anos, e em solos modernos da Antártica. Alguns clones indicam que podem representar novos genes para alcano monoxigenases. As contribuições deste projeto abrangem os objetivos do Ano Polar Internacional (IPY 2007-2009), sobretudo na avaliação da ecologia microbiana da Antártica. / The effect of climate changes on microorganisms is still unclear, because little is known about the species that inhabit the extreme regions as the glacial ice, antarctic soils and the permanently frozen soil (permafrost). The permafrost is able to preserve the sedimented biological materials by thousands or even millions of years, being an important source for microbiological studies. The objective was to study the microbial diversity in cryogenic samples: glacial ice, soil exposed by glacial retreat and polar permafrosts, as well as to study the functional diversity of alkane monooxygenase genes (alk) in the permafrost. Cultivationindependent methods based on the 16S rRNA gene were used, as DGGE, clone library and 454 Pyrosequencing. Analysis of the King George Island (Antarctic Peninsula) glaciers and the South Pole ice revealed about 3x104 cells/mL each, and different micro-organisms were detected, predominantly members from Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria, many of which already described in other cryogenic environments. The soil in front of the Baranowski Glacier has a different community structure compared with the ice. Soils exposed by glacier retreat revealed an ecological succession, and heterotrophic bacteria occurred all through the process. Nitrogen-fixing populations were composed by cyanobacteria at the early stages, and shifted to Rhodopseudomonas and Rhodobacter in the older soils. The observed changes may be related to an increase of K, Mg+, NH4 +, NO3- and/or CO2, detected after 15-20 years of soil exposure. The community of permafrosts varies by location and age (5,000 - 8 millions of years). The alkM gene was detected in old Arctic permafrosts (3 millions of years), while alkB genes were found on Arctic samples from 15,000 to 120,000 years, and in Antarctic modern soils. Some of these clones may represent new alk genes. The contributions of this project covers the goals of the International Polar Year (IPY 2007-2009), particularly in assessing the microbial ecology of Antarctica.

Este estudo apresenta padrões de flutuações das geleiras do Nevado Cololo, Bolívia, no período 1975–2011, determinado partir de dados orbitais, cartográficos e climáticos. As massas de gelo do Nevado Cololo são representativas das geleiras tropicais andinas que estão sujeitas a alternância entre condições atmosféricas úmidas (novembro-abril) e secas (maio-outubro) (outer tropics). Essa sazonalidade é determinada pela oscilação latitudinal da Zona de Convergência Intertropical (ZCIT) e perturbada pelos eventos não sazonais do fenômeno ENOS. A fase positiva, o El Niño, contribui negativamente para o balanço de massa dessas geleiras e foi frequente no intervalo investigado. Esse trabalho usou imagens TM/Landsat-5 para determinar a cobertura de gelo em 1989, 1997, 2008 e 2011. Aplicando o Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI), que utiliza as características espectrais opostas das massas de gelo no visível e no infravermelho próximo, este trabalho delimitou as geleiras do Nevado Cololo. Utilizando as informações de carta topográfica foi obtido um Modelo Digital de Elevação (MDE), elaborado pela interpolação de pontos de elevação usando o método geoestatístico krigagem ordinária. As informações obtidas do sensoriamento remoto e da cartografia foram incorporadas a um Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG) para se obter parâmetros das geleiras. A análise da séries temporais de precipitação e temperatura usaram dados do Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC)/NOAA, do Climate Research Unit Time Series (CRUTS)/University of East Anglia e de duas estações meteorológicas. Os dados climáticos não apresentam tendências estatisticamente significativas, mas há uma fraca redução da precipitação durante os meses de novembro, dezembro e abril, condições essa que podem indicar menor nebulosidade durante o verão. Em 2011 só restavam 48 das 122 geleiras identificadas em 1975. Geleiras pequenas (< 0,1 km²) com cotas máximas baixas foram as mais afetadas e atualmente não existem geleiras abaixo de 4.626 m a.n.m. A cobertura de gelo era de 24,77 ±0,00032 km² em 2011, 42,02% menor do que em 1975. A perda superficial ocorreu em todas as vertentes, independente de orientação, mas as geleiras voltadas a leste foram mais afetadas. Mesmo a maior geleira do Nevado Cololo, face SW, perdeu 21,6% de sua área total e sua frente retraiu cerca de 1 km durante o intervalo de 36 anos. Proporcionalmente, houve o aumento do número de geleiras cuja declividade média está entre 30° e 40°. A redução da espessura gelo é atestada pela fragmentação de geleiras e afloramentos do embasamento em suas partes internas. A perda de massa dessas geleiras estudadas foi provavelmente causada pela intensificação dos processos de ablação. / This study presents fluctuations patterns for the Nevado Cololo glaciers, Bolivia, in the period 1975–2011, as determined from orbital, cartographic and climatic data. Nevado Cololo ice masses are representative of Andean tropical glaciers subjected to alternations of humid (November to April) and dry (May to October) (outer tropics) atmospheric conditions. This seasonality is determined by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) latitudinal oscillation and disturbed by the no seasonal ENSO phenomena. The positive phase, El Niño, contributes negatively to these glaciers mass balance and was frequent during the investigated time period. This work used TM/ Landsat-5 imagery to determine the ice cover in 1989, 1997, 2008 and 2011. Applying the Normalized Snow Difference Index (NDIS), which uses the opposite spectral characteristics of ice masses in the visible and near infrared region, this work delimited the Nevado Cololo glaciers. Based on information from a topographic chart, we obtained a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using elevation points interpolated by the ordinary kriging geostatistical method. Information derived from remote sensing and cartographic sources was incorporated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) to obtain glaciers parameters. The analyses of precipitation and temperature time series used data from the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC)/NOAA, the Climate Research Unit Time Series (CRUTS)/University of East Anglia and from two meteorological stations. Climatic data show no statistically significant trend, but there was a weak precipitation reduction during November, December and April months, a condition that may indicate low cloudiness during the summer. By 2011, there were only 48 of the 122 glaciers identified in 1975. Small glaciers (<0.1 km²) with low maximum elevations were most affected and currently there are no glaciers below 4,626 m asl. The ice covered 24.77 km² in 2011, 42.02% less than in 1975. Surface loss occurred in all slopes, regardless of orientation, but glaciers facing east were most affected. Even the largest glacier in Nevado Cololo, SW face, lost 21.6% of its total area and its front retreated about 1 km during the 36 years period. Proportionately, there was an increase in the number of glaciers whose average slope is between 30° and 40°. The ice thickness reduction is attested by glaciers break up and bedrock outcrops in its internal parts. These glaciers mass loss was probably caused by the intensification of ablation processes.

I examine how two different realizations of bed morphology affect Thwaites Glacier response to ocean warming through the initiation of marine ice sheet instability and associated grounding line retreat. A state of the art numerical ice sheet model is used for this purpose. The bed configurations used are the 1-km resolution interpolated BEDMAP2 bed and a higher-resolution conditional simulation produced by John Goff at the University of Texas using the same underlying data. The model is forced using a slow ramp approach, where melt of ice on the floating side of the grounding line is increased over time, which gently nudges the glacier toward instability. Once an instability is initiated, the anomalous forcing is turned off, and further grounding line retreat is tracked. Two model experiments are conducted. The first experiment examines the effect of different anomalous forcing magnitudes over the same bed. The second experiment compares the generation and progress of instabilities over different beds. Two fundamental conclusions emerge from these experiments. First, different bed geometries require different ocean forcings to generate a genuine instability, where ice dynamics lead to a positive feedback and grounding line retreat becomes unstable. Second, slightly different forcings produce different retreat rates, even after the anomalous forcing is shut off, because different forcing magnitudes produce different driving stresses at the time the instability is initiated. While variability in the retreat rate over time depends on bed topography, the rate itself is set by the magnitude of the forcing. This signals the importance of correct knowledge of both bed shape and ocean circulation under floating portions of Antarctic ice sheets. The experiments also imply that different ocean warming rates delivered by different global warming scenarios directly affects the rate of Antarctic contribution to sea level rise.

Sur la Cordillère Royale en Bolivie, nous avons reconstitué les bilans de masse de 21 glaciers représentatifs, par photogrammétrie numérique. Les MNT's ont été construit à partir des clichés aériens de l'IGM-Bolivie de 1956, 1963, 1975, 1983, 1997 et 2006, avec une précision décimétrique ou métrique.<br />L'analyse des résultats sur le glacier du Zongo montre qu'un tiers de la surface du glacier (zone d'ablation) contrôle 80% du bilan de masse annuel. La série du Zongo constitue la série de bilan de masse glaciaire la plus longue et la plus précise des Andes tropicales.<br />Nous avons analysé les bilans de masse des 21 glaciers depuis 1956, lorsqu'on s'affranchit des tendances de ces glaciers, les variations temporelles du bilan de masse montrent un signal commun d'origine climatique.<br />Nous avons montré ainsi que 88% de la variance des bilans cumulés sont expliqués par l'exposition et l'altitude. Cette corrélation et les restitutions photogrammétriques ont permis de calculer les bilans de masse et la perte de surfaces de 376 glaciers au cours de la période 1963-2006 (43% de perte de leur volume et 48% de perte de leur surface depuis 1975).<br />Enfin, notre étude évalue la contribution des glaciers au système d'alimentation en eau potable de la ville de La Paz. En moyenne sur la période 1975-2006, la fonte glaciaire a contribué à hauteur de 18% et 15% sur la période récente 1997-2006 (12% en saison humide et 27% en saison sèche). Nous avons enfin calculé les débits attendus en cas de disparition totale des glaciers (12% en moins à l'année, 9% en moins en saison humide et 25% en moins en saison sèche).

Dans les Appalaches du sud du Québec, la déglaciation du Wisconsinien supérieur s'effectuait à contre-pente, créant ainsi un contexte favorable à la formation de lacs proglaciaires. Le niveau de ces lacs s'est abaissé par palier lors de la déglaciation de cols d'altitude de plus en plus basse. Dans le bassin versant de la rivière Chaudière, les premiers exutoires d'importance, associés au lac glaciaire Mégantic, entaillent le relief des Montagnes Frontalières à une altitude de 430 mètres au sud du lac Mégantic. Les hauts reliefs des Montagnes Frontalières sont séparés des Monts Notre-Dame, plus au nord, par un plateau de plus basse altitude limité par la ligne Baie Verte -Brompton et la faille de la Guadeloupe. On y retrouve des cols à 395 mètres d'altitude vers la rivière Saint-Jean à l'est et à 310 mètres vers le lac glaciaire Memphrémagog au sud-est. Ces exutoires potentiels sont situés respectivement à la rivière Famine et aux environs de ville de la Guadeloupe. Ils ne semblent toutefois pas avoir été reliés aux différentes phases glaciolacustres d'importance ayant affecté la Beauce. Dans la région de Saint-Damien, d'autres exutoires potentiels vers le nord-est se situent à des altitudes de 375 et 305 mètres. La persistance de glaces appalachiennes dans le centre de la Beauce a permis la déglaciation des Monts Notre-Dame et le drainage par le nord-est avant la déglaciation des exutoires de la Guadeloupe et de la rivière Famine. Les exutoires de Saint-Damien sont associés à des phases glaciolacustres nommées lac glaciaire Chaudière-Etchemin phase 1 et 2. Un delta à Saint-Raphaël témoigne du drainage vers le nord-est de ce plan d'eau vers la Mer de Goldthwait par la Rivière du Sud. Des analyses géochronologiques par luminescence ont été effectuées sur des sédiments de paléorivage dans la région de Mégantic et dans la région de Saint-Odilon. Les âges obtenus sont respectivement associés à la perte d'étanchéité des masses glaciaires résiduelles du centre de la Beauce et au passage entre la phase 1 et 2 du lac glaciaire Chaudière-Etchemin. Les résultats de ces analyses datent ces évènements à 14.0 ± 1.0 et 12.4 ± 0.9 ka. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Géologie, Quaternaire, Géomorphologie, lacs proglaciaires, drainage, Tardiglaciaire, rivière Chaudière, Beauce, luminescence, sédiments glaciolacustres, paléorivages

Les interrogations sur les conséquences du changement climatique dans les hauts bassins montagnards a créé un champ de recherches prolifique en géomorphologie : celui des dynamiques paraglaciaires, activées par la disparition des glaciers. Pendant 30 ans les processus intervenant en contexte paraglaciaire ont été inventoriés, il est désormais nécessaire de comprendre comment l'ensemble de ces processus agit au sein du système paraglaciaire. Pour cela, ce travail est mené à une double échelle temporelle. Sur le temps long, depuis la dernière glaciation (20 000 BP), il s'agit notamment d'authentifier le rôle de la disparition des glaciers dans le déclenchement de mouvements de masse. L'établissement d'un scénario chronologique, par le recours aux cosmonucleides, permet la comparaison des dates de déclenchement des mouvements de masse avec le calendrier de la déglaciation. Le retrait glaciaire et les mouvements de masse sont quasiment synchrones. Sur le temps court, depuis le petit âge de glace, les conséquences de la fusion glaciaire, puis celles de l'abaissement du niveau de base local, constitué par la surface du glacier sont mises en évidence. En définitive, ces deux paramètres favorisent le remaniement de dépôts glaciaires hérités ainsi que l'établissement d'un transit de sédiments continu depuis les parois supraglaciaires vers les fonds de vallées. L'organisation de ce transit est retardé par la présence de nombreuses zones d'accumulations temporaires, formées en amont des édifices morainiques, une durée de plusieurs décennies est parfois nécessaire.

Destruction of ecosystems and infrastructure can be caused by melting of massive ice within permafrost. To predict potential melting caused by natural and human disturbance, we need to know the nature and origin of massive ice deposits. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the nature of massive ice in coarse-grained sediments that accepted theories suggest should not occur. / Degradation of ice-rich granular resources is expensive and difficult to rehabilitate and can cause developmental thermokarst, overestimation of granular resources, disturbance of wildlife habitat and create conflicts with traditional land uses. / To locate massive ice we used a resistivity geophysical technique and to characterize the ice we used geochemical, petrographic and stratigraphic techniques. The resistivity technique detected bodies of massive ice and ice-rich sediments and coarse-grained sediments at high resolutions and laboratory analysis reveal that the ice was of glacial origin. / These findings indicate that massive ice of glacial origin occurs in coarse-grained sediments in permafrost. The techniques used in this study could form the basis of a predictive model of massive ice occurrence.